by R o b i n ♥
Member since:
March 13, 2008

The Faded Boy!

April 26, 2008 02:06 AM EDT (Updated: April 26, 2008 02:16 AM EDT)
views: 148 | rating: 9.5/10 (38 votes) | comments: 47
The old man sat comfortably in his favorite chair; a pool of dim light illuminated him from the standard lamp behind him. The rest of the room was in darkness and a gentle breeze caressed his weathered face from the open window.

 As he sat, deep in thought, he noticed a presence enter the room, it was silent to the ear but he sensed there was someone there.

"Whose there" said the old man.

"It's just me" said a tiny voice.

"Well, come here into the light so I can see you" said the old man.

A tiny figure stepped lithely into the circle of light.

"Is this better" said the small boy.

"How are you tonight" said the old man.

"I'm ok" said the boy.., hesitantly.

The old man turned to look at the boy; it was obvious he was unhappy.

"Come on, hop up here and tell me what's on your mind"

The boy climbed into the safety of the old mans lap and put a slender arm around him.

"What is it, come on, out with it boy" said the old man in a firm but gentle voice.

"Will I be like you when I grow up? I'm afraid to grow up, I don't think I'm going to be happy as a grown up, it seems to be getting harder and more complicated every day" said the boy.

"Well, it does seem that way doesn't it, but you are still just a wee nipper, you will get control of your life and you will have such grand adventures once you do" said the old man.

"It is hard when you are small and everyone else seems to know what's best for you; you start to wonder if your life really belongs to you. I understand little one, you know I do and I promise you that your life is just beginning, you will discover such beauty in the world and within yourself that it will hold you in awe for all the days of your life"

The old man put his arms around the little boy as he faded into the night. The memory of youth so fresh in his mind, the little boy he was…
link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 47

Erik L. Apr 26, 2008, 2:42am EDT
That was perfect. You never fail to amaze me. Did you write this? Either way, once again it was perfect. I know it was just for me, and though I understand what you are trying to tell me, that it's not about me, rather everything and nothing all at once, I still embrace such things. Thank you.
Erik L. Apr 26, 2008, 2:46am EDT
I've never found a suitable mentor since my Papa passed. I've been wondering if you might be that person.
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 2:48am EDT
Yes Erik I wrote it this evening, I was just sitting in my favorite chair thinking about this beautiful little boy I once knew... So I wrote it down, just for you!
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 2:51am EDT
The child and the old man are the same person Elsie I guess I didn't get that across... ???
Yvonne R. Apr 26, 2008, 2:55am EDT
But, is it possible that the little boy is the old man? Either way, it a good lesson to learn or ponder and try to learn. I sincerely will try. Thank you, Robin(little heart thingy), my Friend. You and I know what the little heart thingy is. (:o)
Yvonne R. Apr 26, 2008, 2:57am EDT
I guess I was writing the same thing at the same time about the old man and the little boy being possibly the same person. Sorry, Robin(little heart thingy). (:o)
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 3:08am EDT
Yes the old man is reassuring the little boy that he was...
Jerry Kays Apr 26, 2008, 3:16am EDT
An interesting concept ... I have never thought of what I would tell the little boy ... but I sure would tell him something ... though I doubt he would listen ... old men like me are not taken all that seriously ... by hardly any ... it seems. :-)
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 3:17am EDT
LOL Jerry I listen...
Kamran Qureshi Apr 26, 2008, 3:46am EDT
Beautiful! Growing up did scare me as well at one point i.e. when I was younger. But maybe it scared me in a different way. I guess I was afraid of taking responsibilities on my shoulders. I'm used to it now. Thanks, I enjoyed this little piece!
gaedith o. Apr 26, 2008, 3:56am EDT
Seems i was never able to be a child growing up. Always the grown up nows when i find im the most afraid. ROBBIE i just wrote a little something too would relish your input. This was amazing piece and so heartfelt life never ever stops being scary it seems.
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 4:14am EDT
Thanx Cassandra I wondered if it got through, it's 'me' I think about the frightened little boy I was, now I see theres nothing to fear but he's still with me and I love him...
Wanda H. Apr 26, 2008, 5:21am EDT
I have visited with the frightened little girl I was, to try to help her see past the horror that was her life then. It was hard at first to bring her to me or me to her. But as I continued in my attempts I began to help her to understand that all things happen to the good, even those things that seem evil or mean at first.

I am who I am because my little girl went through the things she went through and we both came out on the other side.

namaste
Patti M. Apr 26, 2008, 6:13am EDT
Robin, another wonderful piece my friend. I did understand that the old man was the boy.
I had to be the grownup at age eight but that's ok. It made me who I am today. I do look back and have those chats once in awhile though. I am stronger for it.
Fran S. Apr 26, 2008, 7:13am EDT
this was a wonderful piece from you Robin..... and that beautiful liittle boy is still very alive and well inside you, I am positive of that.
John Philipp Apr 26, 2008, 7:29am EDT
Robin, this is very moving and a great idea but I did not make the connection that the little boy was the old man.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Apr 26, 2008, 8:15am EDT
Robin, I not only made the connection, I anticipated that he was one and the same by the way the story started off. I feel rewarded for having read this...kinda uplifted...Thanks it was good way to start off my day
Miss Heidi M. Apr 26, 2008, 9:06am EDT
Very well written. Thank you for sharing.
Rory M. Apr 26, 2008, 9:36am EDT
Nicely done, Robin. I thought the connection between the old man and the boy was clear enough.

Sometimes I feel the wisdom can also flow from the little boy to this soon to be old man.
Erik L. Apr 26, 2008, 10:16am EDT
I felt a little bit the heel after reading everyone else's praises for your beautiful prose, but I'm still learning. I think what I meant was, it wasn't about me, it was about you, yet I needed to read it, and I thank you for writing it.

And such is the mysterious glow of this life, right?
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 10:22am EDT
Did you get my email yesterday Erik???
Elsie Duggan Apr 26, 2008, 10:47am EDT
Robin, I apologize, I just reread the piece, and I shouldn't be reading at 2:45 AM, anything like this, as I missed the interpretation. I now see it, and it is still beautiful. Sorry about that. Elsie
Sensational Sadie Sexy Senior Sitizen Apr 26, 2008, 11:20am EDT
This is touching and so true. I'm now that older person and looking back am happy to say despite trials and tribulations, I have had a good life.
Aunt Chelsea Apr 26, 2008, 12:12pm EDT
Awesome.
Beth G. Apr 26, 2008, 12:42pm EDT
what a very tender article. Keep up the good work!
*Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D. Apr 26, 2008, 1:00pm EDT
Truly amazing as usual. You're featured on Gather Gargoyles. I love it. Even the title is thought provoking and how true.
becky soccer mom x1 p. Apr 26, 2008, 1:22pm EDT
very good

this is excellent work
R o b i n ♥ Apr 26, 2008, 1:26pm EDT
Thanks Carol and every body...
Marilyn M. Apr 26, 2008, 1:44pm EDT
Good writing, Robin. I understood that the child and the man were the same.
Glome . . . Apr 26, 2008, 1:54pm EDT
What a wonderful story robin. I remember the very moment I felt as that boy did. I was afraid of the dark. One night I called out and my Daddy came in. He checked under my bed and in the closet & assured me all was well. He was my angel. And then, as he walked out of my room, I noticed he wasn't as big as the door way .... in fact he was shorter than my ceiling. The whole house was bigger than him! That wasn't right. How could he protect me? I decided when I grew up I would never own anything bigger than me. That was a very bad night ... I knew that growing up was going to be no different than being 6.
Jan S. Apr 26, 2008, 2:17pm EDT
Beautifully written! This choked me up a bit. It reminds me of my grandpa, who lived to be 95. Even in his old age, he could remember being a small child and he told us wonderful stories.
Yvonne F. Apr 26, 2008, 2:19pm EDT
Wonderful Robin, thats a 10 from me
(The Other) Dale C. Apr 26, 2008, 2:20pm EDT
Very nice. I'm not quite that same old man, in years, but I do look back at my youth, so very often...... wondering if I had a chance to do it all again, if I'd make the same stupid mistakes.

Thanks for this "thoughtful and enspiring" little story.
Anita D. Apr 26, 2008, 10:33pm EDT
That was excellent.
Definite ten.
Tight presentation.
Sophiya S. Apr 26, 2008, 11:08pm EDT
simply wonderful
Sharon B. Apr 26, 2008, 11:21pm EDT
this is great. I love how you wrote this.
necee t. Apr 27, 2008, 12:53am EDT
this was great... i enjoyed it Robin...
Sujata (funnily 'Suji' ) S. Apr 27, 2008, 1:29am EDT
Thank you Robin great joy reading thru !!!
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached at least five votes and over 8.0 average rating, and as such has been removed from Rating Resurrectionists! Congratulations!
Bubbeh Maisse (aka, G T) Apr 27, 2008, 9:31am EDT
I knew where you were going from the title itself. Still, the journey was powerful.
Rosalee S. Apr 27, 2008, 1:47pm EDT
Remember the saying ," Old Soldiers never die, just fade away'! Your my brilliant old soldier. Especially since I know the wars you've fought were not "physical" ones.
R o b i n ♥ Apr 27, 2008, 1:53pm EDT
Rosalee, joyous to see you, hows New Yowk?

Everyone, Rosalee's in NYC having a vacation away from sleepy San Miguel...
Jared G. Apr 27, 2008, 3:03pm EDT
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Thank you for sharing Robin!
amy s. Apr 28, 2008, 4:42pm EDT
cool story
Julie G. Apr 28, 2008, 10:00pm EDT
Beautiful message, beautifully written...
René Allen May 16, 2008, 11:11am EDT
Very well written Robin ~ Don't know how this one hid in my feed for so long ~ lol.

Blessings ~
Rene
Sarah (I want points) May 20, 2008, 2:45pm EDT
Wow! It's really well done...

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16811, "Oz"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.